Chapter 574: Jealousy is My Power (74)
Chapter 574: Jealousy is My Power (74)
Not even the common whistle of cloven air occurred. The moment Sienne crouched in response to the warning from her Dragon’s Eye, a blood-red line was drawn above her.
It was a sword of rapid speed, faster than sound itself.
Only then did the torn atmosphere let out a belated shriek, writhing in agony. A few strands of hair swept away by the gale bore witness to the lethality of the moment.
It had been a hair’s breadth.
Had she been even a fraction slower, or had the Princess been even slightly taller, that blood-red thread would have become a perforated line—one that would have spilled the contents of her skull for the world to see.
No matter how much she pondered it, the girl was too strong. Even with the blood of a Vampire, was such growth truly possible through that alone?
Something was wrong.
Facing the precipice of death, the Princess’s mind began to race at high speeds. Her survival instinct transformed her extraordinary intellect into something even more specialized.
Think. Think.
If things continued like this, the conclusion was obvious. She would die. To survive, she had to devise a clever scheme.
All sorts of words flowed through her mind without restraint.
Blood, Vampire, power, berserk… and ‘Me.’
A single, short word pierced through her spine like a divine revelation. Whether by luck or misfortune, the Princess had no more time to hesitate.
There was only a fleeting moment left before the next slash would fly.
Sienne hurriedly straightened her body and shouted.
“Wait!”
Of course, there was no reason for a monster that had lost its reason to heed her.
Just before Seria swung her sword again without hesitation, Sienne raised her voice with all her might.
“You said you needed blood!”
Twitch.
At that shout, Seria’s movements stopped for the first time. Her blue eyes stared silently at Sienne.
It seemed she was willing to listen, at least for a moment.
The Princess let out an internal sigh of relief and began to lay out her thoughts calmly.
All the while, she did not forget to continue her chanting, just in case.
“If you want my blood, shouldn't my body at least remain in one piece? Just look at the power of the sword you’re swinging!”
Seria remained silent. Her eyes, fixed intently on Sienne, were unfocused, making it difficult to guess her inner thoughts.
Nevertheless, Sienne did not stop. She believed this was the only path to survival.
“You’re cutting down dozens of trees at once. What do you think will happen if I’m hit directly by that sword? I’ll be blown to pieces, and then you won’t be able to get my blood…”
“Your Highness, you resemble me.”
It was an unexpected remark.
No matter how brilliant the Princess was, she couldn't have predicted this turn of events. Sienne swallowed hard in her momentary confusion, accelerating the chanting she had been preparing.
The more variables there were, the further the possibility of a peaceful resolution drifted away.
If that happened, the only thing she could rely on was violence. Having studied the Study of Emperorship since childhood, Sienne knew this fact all too well.
Silent Chanting.
It was a high-level technique that even upperclassmen at the Academy struggled with. However, as the top student of the first year and a descendant of the Dragon’s bloodline, Sienne could use it freely.
Just a little, just a little more.
Did she sense Sienne’s desperate heart?
Seria slowly lowered her sword and continued with an observation that sounded like a sigh.
“Is that the only answer you’ve found after running and running? To try and negotiate, to beg… Ah, I had a time like that too. First I ran, then I wept and pleaded, and in the end, I became this.”
A hollow laugh escaped Seria’s lips.
The gaze she cast down at her hand gripping the sword seemed somewhat vacant. Her eyes, smeared with regret and lamentation, painted a lonely portrait.
“…Truly, Your Highness, you resemble me.”
“So, do you feel pity for me?”
Sienne asked back, forcing a harmless smile.
Of course, behind her back, several geometric shapes were interlocking with one another. It was the strongest magic the Princess could muster at this moment.
She was used to acting.
Sienne vowed once more not to let her smile falter. Fortunately, her opponent was a monster who had half-lost her mind; there wasn't a trace of suspicion toward the Princess.
“Pity, well… rather than that, how should I put it.”
At the moment Seria’s head dropped as if she were contemplating.
Sienne instinctively knew this was her last chance. The enemy had dropped all her guard, and even her gaze was not directed here.
If she was going to strike while her opponent was distracted, it had to be now.
Dozens of geometric shapes rose behind Sienne.
Before Seria could even notice, the complex magic circles resonated simultaneously, beginning to stir a gale. Since she had been preparing in advance, the time required for activation was extremely short.
Immediately after.
“Flash, burn! As the star of truth that pierces the whole world… Thousand Li Step!”
Whoosh.
A bird of light spread its wings and soared. It happened so fast that one couldn't distinguish between the leap and the glide.
By the time one noticed, the bird was already pouncing on the silver-haired girl. It was an illusion as if folded space had unfurled and launched her forward. Or perhaps, a visual trick as if she alone had been flung out of frozen time to sprint ahead.
Even then, Seria showed no reaction. Seeing this, Sienne’s face began to brighten.
It worked.
No matter how much a mage was at a disadvantage against a swordsman in a one-on-one fight, the story changed if they were given time to chant.
The firepower of magic was overwhelming. Especially with a chant prepared with this much care, even a swordsman two steps ahead would find it difficult to emerge unscathed.
As if to prove this, wasn't Seria just standing there, as if she had given up on resisting?
Sienne quickly prepared to retreat. Her plan was to flee as far as possible and leave the rest to Ian.
Yes, that was what was supposed to happen.
If only that ominous crack hadn't echoed out.
The Princess, who was about to turn and run, froze in place. She simply couldn't believe the sight before her eyes.
The sword was embedded in the bird of light.
As if the mana were glass or marble, hairline cracks were spreading from where the blade was stuck. What was even more terrifying was the fact that the mana leaking through those cracks was flowing toward someone.
Toward none other than Seria.
“Ah, yes… it’s irritating.”
That low murmur was the signal.
With a pop, the bird of light instantly turned into shimmering dust. And through that shimmering dust, a purple trajectory was fired.
There was no room to resist.
Sienne’s trembling gaze slowly followed the end of that trajectory.
Her thigh had already been pierced by the blade.
Blood dripped steadily from the sword's point. For a while, Sienne could only wear a dazed expression, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
What?
What on earth just…
It was then that the belated pain surged up her spinal cord like a wildfire.
“Ugh, aah… KYAAAAAAAH!”
It was an intense agony she had rarely experienced in her short life. Sienne had no choice but to scream and collapse on the spot. She was so shocked that her arms trembled violently as she tried to reach for her wound.
But even that was brief.
There was no time to catch her breath. With a thwack, another flash pierced her left shoulder.
It was a small stone. The pebble Seria had kicked casually was enough to become a lethal weapon and pierce one of Sienne’s limbs.
As she lost an arm and a leg in succession, an even more pitiful scream erupted from Sienne’s mouth.
“Ugh, hng… kh, kyaa, aaah, AAAAAAAAH!”
Pain that transcended limits even constricted the vocal cords trying to vent the scream.
Sienne wept, unable to even make a proper sound, and into that quieted surroundings, footsteps descended rhythmically.
Step, step, step.
The gait was accompanied by a cold question.
“Do you know why Your Highness always had to run away? And why you had to bow your head and beg?”
“Ugh, kh… h-huuuu…!”
Sienne’s mind had long since gone white with pain. There was no room left for Seria’s words to enter.
Nevertheless, Seria continued her speech relentlessly.
“Because you are pathetic and weak.”
And then, with another thwack.
The stone Seria kicked pierced Sienne’s remaining shoulder. The Princess could now only endure the pain with gritted teeth, her eyes bloodshot.
A suppressed groan leaked through her clenched teeth.
“Ugh, guu… k-kkkkkkkh!”
“Because you are stupid and weak, you can gain nothing… Now, look. Look at what a state Your Highness is in.”
Drip, drop.
Sienne’s eyes, with burst capillaries, turned toward Seria with hostility and fear. The silver-haired girl was now right in front of the Princess; Seria slowly lowered her posture, arms crossed.
She watched with empty eyes that betrayed no emotion whatsoever.